False twist spindle



FALSE TWIST SPINDLE Filed June 2, 1966 A INVENTOR. HANS H. RICHTER v M FG' *Mh ATTOR EYS United States Patent O 3,292,357 FALSE TWIST SPINDLE Hans H. Richter, Cranston, RJ., assignor to Leesona Corporation, Warwick, RJ., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 2, 1966, Ser. No. 554,754 8 Claims. (Cl. 57-77.45)

This invention relates generally to apparatus for imparting false twist to a strand of yarn, and more particularly is directed to a novel high speed spindle of the false twist type for use with such apparatus.

A number of processes for imparting a crimped structure to yarns have been employed Qr suggested from time to time, but, of all these, the false twist process has been most widely accepted. This procedure involves twisting the yarn, setting the twist as by heating, rand untwisting the set yarn in a continuous operation. This is accomplished by passing the yarn through a rotating spindle having some means for engaging the yarn to impart twist to the yarn as it approaches the spindle. The twist thus inserted is temporary inasmuch as it is removed as the yarn leaves the engaging means. Spindles adapted for this operation are known as false twist spindles.

The spindle disclosed herein employs the principles of planetary mechanics. More specifically, the yarn rotating body itself is Iof small diameter, and is fri-ctionally engaged by a much larger annular member which rotates at a moderate speed. A retainer member cooperating with the annular member substantially encompasses the rotating body and prevents lateral movement thereof -but is itself rotatable relative to the annular member. Rotation of the annular member at a moderate speed serves to rotate the yarn rotating body at a very high speed. Furthermore, rotation of the retainer member in a direction opposite that of the annular member operates to increase still further the rotational speed of the rotating body while lrotation in the same direction operates to decrease such speed.

The invention is so constructed that those elements which are of greater mass, namely the :annular and retainer members, rotate at relatively slow to moderate speeds,

while only the very small yarn rotating body is subjected to high rotational speeds.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a false twist spindle which is operable at high speeds of rotation without excessive wear.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a false twist spindle which is of simplified construction and which permits an increased economy of operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a false twist spindle which operates in -a planetary manner whereby the Imass of the high speed yarn rotating element is small Aas compared with the mass of the complete structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious or will appear hereinafter in the specification taken together with the drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout;

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation View, partially in section taken along the vertical center line of the spindle;

FIGURE 3 is a section View taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detail view of elements generally illustrated in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a detail View in section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

With reference now t-o the drawings, numeral 10 |generally indicates the false twist apparatus which embodies the principles of the invention. The apparatus 10 is illustrated as being mounted on an arm 12 which may be swingable in a conventional manner between an active and an inactive position.

A cup shaped cover 14 is secured to the arm 12 by means of flanged bearing housing 16 which is received through appropriate apertures in said -cover and said arm. A washer 18 and a suitable fastener 20 are applied to the threaded portion 16a `of the housing 16 to hold that element and cover 14 fast to iarm 12. A support bracket 22, actually an upward extension of cover 14, has upper bearing housing 26 mounted thereon by screws 24. Housing 26 extends forwardly in cantilevered fashion and is provided with an upward extending bearing housing at its forwardmost end. A hollow shaft 28 is rotatably journaled in housing 26 by means of a suitable bearing 30. A pair of diametrically opposed, downwardly inclined openings 28b are provided in shaft 28 beneath housing 26.

A second hollow shaft 32, axially :aligned with shaft 28 is supported for rotation in housing 16 by means of suitable bearings. A funnel-shaped member 34 is fixed to the topmost portion of shaft 32 and terminates at its upper end in an annulus 36. As best seen in FIG- URE 5, a track 38 dened by rim 38a and retainer ring 39 is formed in said annulus 36. A ring 40' formed of a material having the 'characteristics of resilience and a high coe-cient of friction is located in track 38. The retainer ring 39 is held in pla-ce by means of a force t and itself serves hold ring 40 in place.

Circular yarn guide 46 is held in place on the lower end of shaft 28 by means of a C-ring 43. Disc-like retainer member 42 rests upon the upper surface of guide 46 and is fixed to the hub 46a on said guide by retaining ring 44a so that said guide and retainer turn as a unit when shaft 28 is rotated. Guide 46 and retainer 42 are concentric with ring 40 and are positioned vertically so that retainer 42 is in the same plane as said ring. The dia-meter of retainer 42 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said ring 40 and it is slightly greater than the diameter of guide 46. A second circular yarn guide 48, having the same diameter as guide 46, is mounted -on shaft 28 above retainer 42. Guide 48 is free t-o rotate relative to shaft 28 and is also free to move axially on shaft 28. In order to selectively hold guide 48 in a raised position adjacent housing 26 for a reason which will be subsequently understood, a spring 50 is fixed to said housing and is engageable with the lip 48a on guide 48. Guide 48 is seen in its raised or inoperative position in phantom in FIGURE 2. v

A pair of recesses 52 are provided at diametrically opposed locations in the periphery of retainer disc 42. One recess serves to receive a false twist head 54. The other recess serves to maintain the balance of retainer disc 42. The depth `of recess 52 is greater than the diameter of false twist head 54 to permit said head to lbe slid from beneath ring 39 for removal thereof.

The false twist head 54 is generally cylindrical in shape and has an axial bore formed therethrough. Twist head 54 is formed from an outer sleeve `54e and a concentric inner sleeve 54b which are pressed together with wear resistant pin 54a extending across the bore in sleeve 54b. False twist head 54 is adapted to ride on insert 40 in the track 38, its vertical movement (see FIGURE 5) being limited by rim 38a and retainer ring 39.

Shaft 28 and guide 46 and retainer 42 are adapted to be rotated by belt 58 which contacts whorl 60, xed to shaft 28, when arm 12 is in active position. Shaft 32 `and member 34 are rotated by belt 56 when arm 12 is in lactive position.

To thread the spindle of the present invention a strand of yarn Y is drawn upwardly through shaft 32. Yarn guide 48 is manually lifted to engage lip 48a with spring 50 to make false twist head 54 accessible. Head 54 is then removed from retainer disc 42 and the yarn passed through its bore being wrapped around pin 54a as it is passed therethrough. Head 54 is then replaced in recess 52 and guide 48 is lowered to its operating position. The yarn from the twist head 54 is then drawn upwardly through one of the openings 28b into the bore of shaft 28, from whence it is eventually wound into a package in a known manner. It will be appreciated that the peripheries of yarn guides 46 and 48 are substantially aligned with the rotational axis of twist head 54 so that the yarn, when properly threaded, will tend to pass through twist head 54 along the laxis thereof.

The false twist spindle of the present inventionV operates in the following7 manner. Rotation of retainer 42 causes false twist head 54 to be pressed by centrifugal action against ring 40 and to be rotated thereby. Inasmuch as the circumference of ring 40 is much greater than the circumference of head 54 one revolution of retainer 42 will cause head 54 to rotate several times. If ring 40 is rotated in the opposite direction to the rotation of retainer 42 its rotation will also add to the rotation of head 54.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be operated in several diierent manners. For example, ring 40 can be held stationary and retainer 42 rotated. In such an operation the speed of twist head 54 can 'be computed by the formula:

Secondly retainer 42 and ring 40 can be rotated i-n opposite directions. In such an operation the speed of twist head 54 can be computed by the formula:

Thirdly retainer 42 and ring 40 can be rotated in the same In each of the above equations, N denotes rotational speed, ID denotes inner diameter, and OD denotes outer diameter of the respective parts.

From the above it will be seen that if the ratio of the inner diameter of ring 40 to the outer diameter of twist head 54 is 10:1 and shaft 32 is rotated at a speed of 50,000 r.p.m. and shaft 32 is rotated contrariwise at a speed `of 10,000 r.p.m. the rotational speed of false twist head 54 is 590,000 r.p.m.

Since certain changes can be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matters contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted yas illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A false twist device comprising an annular member, yarn twisting means having a peripheral surface of revolution, means for rotatably supporting said yarn twisting means, and means for driving said yarn twisting means relative to said annular member, said driving means being operable to bias said yarn twisting means into rolling engagement with the inside surface of said annular member.

2. The false twist device set forth in claim 1 wherein said annular member is rotatable and further comprising means for rotating said annular member.

3. A false twist device comprising an annular member, yarn twisting means having a peripheral surface of revolution, a rotatable retainer disc coaxial and coplanar with said annular member and having a recess disposed therein 1 open to said annular member, said yarn twisting means being confined within said recess and engageable with said annular member, and means for rotating said retainer means to bias said yarn twisting means into rolling engagement with said annular member.

4. The false twist device set forth in claim 3 wherein said annular member is rotatable and further comprising means for rotating said annular member.

5. A false twist device comprising rotatable spindle means having an axial bore therethrough for passage of a moving strand of yarn, an annular member formed on said spindle means, lirst drive means for rotating said spindle means, a rotatable retainer disc coaxial and coplanar with said annular member and having a radial recess disposed therein open to said annular member, yarn twisting means having a peripheral surface of revolution, said yarn twisting means being confined within said recess and engageable with said annular member and second drive means for rotating said disc to bias said yarn twisting means into engagement with said annular member.

6. The false twist device set forth in claim 5 further comprising yarn guide means arranged to direct yarn through said yarn twisting means.

7. The false twist device set forth in claim 6 wherein said yarn guide means comprises at least two elements, one of said elements being movable between operative and inoperative positions, and resilient means for selectively holding said one element in the inoperative position.

8. The false twist device set forth in claim 5 wherein said rst drive means comprises a whorl formed on said spindle means and 4a translatable belt in engagement with said spindle whorl, and wherein said second drive means comprises a rotatable shaft having an axial bore there-` through for passage of a moving strand of yarn, a whorl on said shaft, and a translatable belt in engagement with said shaft whorl.v

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner. D. E. WATKINS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FALSE TWIST DEVICE COMPRISING AN ANNULAR MEMBER, YARN TWISTING MEANS HAVING A PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF REVOLUTION, MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID YARN TWISTING MEANS, AND MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID YARN TWISTING MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID ANNULAR MEMBER, SAID DRIVING MEANS BEING 